"The sect grand ceremony has concluded, and the Nine Provinces Alliance has been established in its preliminary form. What are your plans now?"
On their way back, Ji Buwang suddenly asked Xu Yi.
The grand ceremony of the Xuanji Sect had been a success.
Besides informing the world of Xu Yi's identity, the plan to eliminate the demon race was also put on the agenda.
All the sects and major families that attended the ceremony decided to officially form the Nine Provinces Alliance.
The sole objective of the Nine Provinces Alliance was to eradicate the demon race and protect the peace of the Nine Provinces.
However, the Nine Provinces Alliance was merely in its nascent stage, and its perfection would require considerable time and effort to achieve, a long-term undertaking.
Ji Buwang was more interested in Xu Yi's current plans.
Xu Yi pondered for a moment and then slowly said, "Currently, there are two most important matters for me."
"Which two?"
"First, to improve my cultivation." Xu Yi looked towards the peak of Xuanji Sect, "Second, to find the residual soul of the Demon King."
Ji Buwang's brows furrowed.
Both matters Xu Yi mentioned were difficult to accomplish.
The first, improving cultivation, was naturally the top priority. However, cultivation was not achieved overnight.
Even with Xu Yi's extraordinary talent, it was impossible for her cultivation to skyrocket in an extremely short period.
As for the second matter, finding the residual soul of the Demon King, there was currently no clue.
This time, taking advantage of Teacher Li's emergence from seclusion, Xu Yi had given the lotus platform, which the Great Peng Golden-Winged Bird greatly valued, to Teacher Li for research.
However, the conclusion ultimately disappointed Xu Yi.
The construction of the lotus platform was intricate and masterfully crafted. Teacher Li was unable to open it without damaging the contents within.
Therefore, the search for the Demon King's divine soul had once again reached a stalemate.
Xu Yi noticed Ji Buwang's troubled expression and smiled, "I plan to take the lotus platform and the Great Golden-Winged Bird to Shenzhou again.
One is to try our luck and see if there are any unexpected discoveries, and the other is to check on the situation of the Eight-tailed White Fox."
It would also be an opportunity to gain experience.
Xu Yi did not voice the last point, but Ji Buwang understood her intentions.
Xu Yi did not intend to bring him along this time either.
Of course, Ji Buwang indeed could not accompany Xu Yi.
The operation of the Nine Provinces Alliance required a large amount of manpower and resources to maintain. As the Sect Leader of Xuanji Sect, he naturally had to contribute, and a significant contribution at that.
He had no choice and no time to be by Xu Yi's side.
Ji Buwang's eyes were placid, his heart filled with a complex mixture of emotions.
Especially when he thought of the Xuanqing Sect members who were still lingering at Xuanji Sect and refused to leave, his brow grew even more clouded.
After the sect grand ceremony concluded, other sects had gradually departed, but only the Xuanqing Sect showed no intention of leaving, and their intentions remained unknown.
Just as Ji Buwang thought of the Xuanqing Sect, the communication disk at Xu Yi's waist chimed.
Ji Buwang's brow twitched. Seeing Xu Yi pick up the communication disk and her expression slightly change, he suddenly had a premonition.
The message sent to Xu Yi was from someone in the Xuanqing Sect.
Indeed, after Xu Yi put down the communication disk, she looked at Ji Buwang and said softly, "Sect Leader Qinglian wishes to see us."
As expected.
Ji Buwang nodded slightly, and the two quickened their pace towards the temporary residence of the Xuanqing Sect.
Outside Qinglian Zhenren's room, Long Haotian was already waiting.
However, when he saw Xu Yi and Ji Buwang approaching side-by-side, his eyes darkened, and he subconsciously wiped away the curve of his lips.
"Ancestor Xu, Sect Leader Buwang."
Long Haotian greeted the two, gritting his teeth.
Xu Yi smiled, "Is Sect Leader Qinglian within?"
"The Sect Leader is waiting for you two inside."
Long Haotian stepped forward to open the door for them and stood to the side, watching as they walked past him.
Bang.
The door closed.
Long Haotian gave a bitter smile.
Even at this point, he still couldn't let go.
Thinking of the two who had acted so harmoniously just now, Long Haotian lowered his head and left dejectedly.
Inside the room.
Sect Leader Qinglian stepped forward to greet Xu Yi and Ji Buwang, which surprised Xu Yi considerably.
"Sect Leader Qinglian, you are too courteous. I am somewhat overwhelmed by this honor."
Xu Yi had interacted with Sect Leader Qinglian a few times.
The soul-stabilizing needle in her sea of consciousness was a gift from Sect Leader Qinglian.
She believed she understood Sect Leader Qinglian somewhat.
Even if he knew their true identities, he would only treat them according to common courtesy, never so enthusiastically.
Xu Yi eyed Sect Leader Qinglian suspiciously, not hiding her wariness.
Sect Leader Qinglian faltered.
He had forgotten that Xu Yi was never one to follow the rules or be two-faced with her words.
He removed the polite smile from his face and sighed, "To be frank, Ancestor Xu, I have asked you here again because I need your help with something else."
"I knew it." Sect Leader Qinglian stating his intention made Xu Yi relax. "Please tell me what happened first."
Last time, Sect Leader Qinglian had asked Xu Yi for help to resolve Bei Xinghan's inner demons.
What was it this time?
Xu Yi was very curious.
"I am here for Bei Xinghan again."
Xu Yi and Ji Buwang exchanged glances, both seeing the surprise in each other's eyes.
"Bei Xinghan? What happened to him?" Xu Yi asked urgently.
Not long ago, when she returned to Kunlun Academy, she had heard from Yu Xiaoyu that Bei Xinghan had also gone to a mysterious secret realm for training and was unable to communicate with the outside world.
Therefore, he had specifically informed everyone before he left.
Xu Yi was cultivating in the inheritance secret realm of the artifact demon at the time and couldn't reply promptly. By the time she wanted to contact Bei Xinghan again, she received no response.
"Bei Xinghan is missing."
Sect Leader Qinglian's face was filled with bitterness.
"Didn't he go to a secret realm for cultivation? How could he go missing? And if he can't contact the outside world, how did you know he was missing?"
Xu Yi had many questions, and she asked them all at once.
Sect Leader Qinglian explained them one by one.
"Bei Xinghan did go to a secret realm, and it was the inheritance secret realm of our Xuanqing Sect. Although he couldn't contact the outside world, his every move was under the control of the Xuanqing Sect.
It was only recently that a disciple responsible for guarding the secret realm reported that Bei Xinghan's icon had disappeared from the secret realm map, and only then did I know that Bei Xinghan was missing."
Sect Leader Qinglian's words resolved Xu Yi's previous doubts, but new questions arose.
"After Bei Xinghan disappeared, did you go to investigate the situation in the secret realm? Did you find anything unusual or any signs of a struggle?"
"Of course, I did."
Sect Leader Qinglian nodded.
Upon receiving the news, he immediately rushed to the secret realm but found nothing.
He had even brought several elders to search together.
Still, no useful clues were found.
Bei Xinghan seemed to have been suddenly erased from the secret realm, leaving no trace.
Xu Yi's brows furrowed tightly.
Her first reaction upon hearing of Bei Xinghan's disappearance was to suspect that he had been taken by the demon race.
But she hadn't expected that Bei Xinghan's disappearance would occur in the secret realm of the Xuanqing Sect.
If that were the case, it should have nothing to do with the demon race.
After all, the demon race's influence had not yet infiltrated such an important location within the Xuanqing Sect.
Then, where exactly did Bei Xinghan go?
Is he dead or alive now?